Captain of USS Theodore Roosevelt Wants Infected Sailors Off the Ship

Mar 31, 2020

The captain of the San Diego-based USS Theodore Roosevelt has asked the Navy to remove from the ship more than 100 sailors on board who have tested positive for the coronavirus and move them to housing on shore.

In a memo published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Capt. Brett Crozier wrote “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our sailors.”

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly issued a statement saying the Navy was working to get the infected sailors off the ship but says there are only few housing options on Guam where ship is docked.

Capt.Crozier wrote in his memo that it is impossible to follow guidance from the CDC on isolating infected personnelfor 14 days because of close quarters aboard the ship, which carriers a crew of 3,000 and air wing of about 2,000.